A first hand look at the African Culture

On Saturday, a few of us decided to join a group of people going to the Maison Bethel, which is one of the orphanages in town. I was not really sure what to expect but was excited to see what was there.  We drove in two vehicles to the orphanage which housed children age 2 to 18 at least those are the ones we worked with.  Driving there we had to again drive though puddles that looked like lakes in the middle of the road but in most places there was no way to go around them. The kids were outside playing when we got there but they were excited to see us. The little ones were easy to communicate with because you could have a conversation with your eyes and by playing peek-a-boo. There were a few of them that I would have loved to take home with me. I just loved being there and playing with the kids.

Saturday evening I watched the USA vs. Ghana Futbol game.  It was quite the game. On one side of the lounge the Ghanan people and those cheering for them sat while on the other side were the US and those cheering for the US. The Ghanans had drums and flags. The US had laptops and a flag. When our national anthem played some of us sang but when the Ghana national anthem played the Ghanans all sang and stood. They have so much country spirit. When they scored the first goal the all came running over to us. They repeated this after the second goal as well. Here is a little of what it was like after the game.

This is Max. His parents are from Florida. He was pretty into the game and cheering

On Sunday, we went to the Fishing Village for church on Sunday. It was a beautiful day and I was excited to worship God in a different culture. When we arrived it was like we were famous people being followed by the paparazzi. They were filming as we entered the village and ran alongside the vehicles as we drove through the village to the church. The church members had already started worshiping even though the pastor was with us. It was amazing to be part of the worship. Even though I could not understand what they were singing, you could see and feel the spirit moving. At one point the pastor got up and said that they were going to teach the white people how to African Dance. While dancing us all said it looks like the chicken dance. After we finished dancing a little girl was waiting for me, and we walked back to my seat. She climbed up on my lap and sang with me.  She sat with me the whole service but another little girl came over to sit with me at the same time, so my friend Julie pulled her on to her lap. At one point we had three little girls sitting with us. Sunday was Children Day so they had all the children in the church come forward. There had to be at least 50 children if not more in the church. I would say they were the majority of the culture. It was pretty amazing to see so many children praise the Lord. 

I love seeing Jesus in the faces of these little ones.

Trusting

Heather

The Way the Road Goes

Friday, the summer program team piled into the Land Rover to explore the country a little and sees what types of field trips we could do with our kids this summer. We left the ship at about 9:30am to visit a number of places but that number had already been cut in have since we could only go in one direction from the ship due to demonstrations in town. The first place we stopped was the Sports Complex. As we were driving Nikki asked, "does anyone speak French?”I replied a little was a little hesitant with that. We got to the complex to see what they had and to negotiate a price for bringing the kids there. Well, three of us went into the office and asked if we could speak English.  He said that he spoke very little and asked if we in French, I responded “un peu”. I found that I was able to understand more then I was able to speak, although it is coming back to me. 

After visiting the Sports Complex, we headed back towards the ship to stop at a few other places. One of the last places we stopped was COCO BEACH. Driving through the streets to this was a great was to see the poverty level. It was fun to see the goats running free, driving through the tire high puddles, and watching the children run with the car to wave at the White people. Once we were at the beach we saw the waves. I thought the waves at Hampton Beach and Newport, RI were big but they did not compare to the waves here.

The waves are crashing on a break wall.

OK time to head back and get some lunch off the ship. We began our drive back but it was not long before we got in to a bottle neck of traffic. There are not really any road rules here in Togo. Pretty much, the idea is keep your eyes open and drive all over the road.  Watch out for the zemi's (which are the motorcycles). At some points you will find three or four or more people at a time sitting on the bike. They also don’t wear helmets and if they do it could be anything.  After sitting and not moving for over an hour we decided to turn around and go someplace different for lunch. We went back to Coco beach for lunch. Here is where you will all laugh at me.  We are in a very French culture and the restaurant at Coco beach is French. The menu was in French with a few things in English. I looked over the menu and saw a few things that I wanted to try but then I saw Spaghetti Marina, I said of I want that, thinking it was Spaghetti and red sauce.  We all placed our orders then waited.  As we were waiting for our food we had a visitor. He was not really shy until you pulled out your camera. He would look at us and wiggle his eyebrows. His eyes got huge when our food arrived.

Well, as our food arrive I realized what I order was not what I thought. The waitress placed my plate in front of me and it was not red sauce but a plate of spaghetti and seafood. I am talking shrimp, muscles, fish, and other things I did not recognize. I think that this showed on my face because someone offered me their crepe au poulet avec verte salade.  Ok time to head back to the ship or at least try. We didn’t get very far this time either. It was great to see the different stuff on the side of the road but after a while we saw the same thing. Three of us decided to walk back to ship or at least start back. So we began the journey back to the ship on foot.  This was quite the experience. I really wish I had my camera or even my bag so I could have picked up souvenirs.  After an hour of walking we finally made it back to the ship but none of us had our room keys. The group in the car was still stuck and not really moving. We arrived back at the ship at 3:30 and the car got back just before 6. I was glad to have gotten out.

Living on the ship and with restrictions has helped me to see that we really can’t control what is going to happen but that God has everything under control.

Trusting,

Heather

PHOTO OP

We are making videos for the opening of each morning about Heroes. So we walked about the ship today to take videos of the heroes on the Africa Mercy. We walked down to the hospital ward to get some of the doctors and nurses. As we walked on the floor a little boy was walking with one of the nurses toward us. HE saw my camera and got excited. He took my camera out of my hands and turned it on and took a picture of me.

He then proceeded to take pictures of nurses on the floor. He got us to stand in groups with his mom to take pictures. He then would hand the camera off to other people so he could have his picture taken with us. Here are a few shots he took.

After a few minutes, he saw a nurse he know and ran and jumped in to her arms. He then looked at me and had me take their picture.

The entire time, we were down there he had a huge smile on his face and was giggling. Just before we headed back upstairs he took my camera again and said “my photo” with a big laugh. I said no and he gave it back to me. I am going to try to print a few of the photos so he can have them.

This made my day. Just seeing his smile and that we are making a difference.

Living the Ship life!!!

So I have been on board for five days know. Boy is life different on board and without the freedom to go where you want.  We have started working and planning the summer program for the next four weeks. I am thankful for all my years at camp, especially my one year in day camp on the grounds. All you HTR, WMR and WMDC people lots of ideas are being used here on the AFRICA MERCY.  We have for weeks with four themes. Week one is HERO’s, yes we are doing a Super Hero Day. I am thinking of an idea. I am in charge of the openings every morning and we are planning skits. Week two is Baobab Blast, or a Safari. Being in Africa it is great to go on a safari although we are in a city. I have some great ideas already in my head for this week. Week three and four are still being decided on. We are either doing Pirates or something called planet zoom. I love the pirates one and we have not looked at the planet zoom one. I thought it was planets but someone said it is bees. We shall see.

So working in the Academy we are working with one group of people with very different people who have very different ways of doing and accomplishing things. We have one girl still in college, an international school teachers, a Mennonite school teacher from Indiana, a South African student taking a year of to let God send her around, and a teacher from Texas.  I have found that when things are scattered and much unorganized I take control. Whether this is a good thing or not I am not sure but I am looking to see how God is going to us this. I am learning a lot about patience.

Beside the Academy aspect, living on a ship is like living in a college dorm. Lots of people all over and always up to something. Because the World Cup is going on, the common areas are normally full of people watching a game. Now this is not like watching a football game at home. It is almost like the Super bowl three times a day depending on who is playing.  I have watched a few games and have found that I am enjoying them more and more.

I went walking on the deck the other day with one of the girls I arrived with the other day. While we were out there it was so beautiful that I just had to share the view with you.

On Tuesday Morning about 10:00am we lost the ability to go to shore and leave the boat. They called in all the client workers due to demonstrations in town.  My friend who works in the dental client said that they were protesting right near the client and the roads were blocked.  All during that day we received updates on what was going on in town and whether or not we could go to town or not. By Wednesday, they were calling in anyone who lived off ship and letting day volunteers stay on the ship instead of heading back to town. We were all feeling trapped at this point so I suggested we go out and run or walk the dock after dinner. I ran a mile and then walked a mile. After running the mile I felt pretty sick but walking helped ease that.  As we were running/ walking, it started to rain and this morning we were given back shore leave as long as we were in groups and were in shuttles. I get to get off the ship tomorrow to see some of the sights for field trips and to see if I think I can drive one of the Mercy Ship vehicles. I will not be driving just yet but probably next week.

I am excited for Saturday because I am going to an orphanage in town.

I cannot wait to tell you about my day today but right know I need to go to bed.

Pray that the demonstrations in town stay down so we can leave the ship and dock.

Trusting,

Heather

AFRICA MERCY

As most of you are probably wondering how it is onboard the Africa Mercy, I thought I would give you a glimpse.

My cabin is a four berth as they call it. It contains two sets of bunk, four closets, a sitting area and a bathroom. I have a bottom bunk.

The shower head hits my head if I stand up straight in the shower and if we move the shower head it floods the bathroom.

The ship has 8 decks.

There is a Starbucks on deck 5 which is called the town square.  Drinks here range from $.50-to $1.50

The Academy is on deck 6 and 7. Very high tech equipment here at the school. I want some of it in my classroom.  I will take picture of the Academy and post. My heart melted when I saw the preschool classroom!!!! It is so cute.

There are flat screen TV place around Decks 5 and 6 which at the moment is show the World Cup.  Having 30 nations represented on the ship there is never any lack of people sitting around watching the game.

The hospital is on deck 3. I am hoping to be able to watch a surgery while on board but also I want to be able to connect with some of the patients.

The dining room is like camp except the food is a little better and the tables are smaller. There is always peanut butter and jelly, Nutella, (no fluff) and fixings for grilled cheese sandwiches. The drinks are always available to us.

I am still getting lost but I think by the end of five weeks I will be navigating fairly well around the ship.

HERE I AM

My journey to Africa began on Wednesday afternoon when I left NY to head to Stoughton, MA for two days before getting on the plane. Thursday the day was spent packing, and repacking, trying on skirts, seeing friends and family, and trying to get contacts shipped. Friday, was another day spent with packing and repacking, a prayer breakfast, and dinner with my aunts, uncles, and cousin (who is heading to Honduras in a week for a missions trip). Then it was time to head to the airport. I got there with my three bags, (one of which held my backpack and laptop) praying that my luggage going under the plane was under 23 kilos. My first on passed with no problem, second one I was holding my breath, just made it. My carry-on I separated into two because they told me it was too heavy.


So I left my mom and dad at security (mom wanted to come to the gate) with a few tears but for me that is good and headed to the gate. At the gate I receive three phone calls; one from mom, one from some of my accountability girls and one from my sister Kristin. Time to board the plane and begin the journey of a lifetime. As I approached my seat I noticed that I was sitting with a mom and two kids, right up my alley. I pulled out two books for them to look at but ended up reading them to the children. This opened up a lot of conversation from the little girl who is going into third grade. She told me all about the book she is reading, and how to find when a book was written, and all about her penguin report.

The plane ride to Paris was pretty uneventful after that point because I sleep the entire time. I woke up just in time for breakfast although for me it was 4 am but in Paris it was 10am (I think). I got to Paris and made my way to where my next flight was leaving from. When I got to the gate area, I saw to girls sitting talking and one of them was wearing a Mercy Ships shirt so I went over to introduce myself. One of them is working with the dental crew (Julie) and the other is working in the Academy with me (MariJo), both live in Ohio. As we were sitting in the airport, we looked for others who were joining Mercy Ships. When we were boarding we met 4 others who were traveling with us. This leg of the flight I was more awake for. I did sleep for part of it but not all of it. There was a cute little boy on my flight here who just made me melt with his smile. He walked over to me in the airport (he tried to open my suitcase). He sat in front of me on the plane heading to Lome. At this point I am done sitting on the plane and I just want to move around. We left Paris at 2:25pm and arrived at 6:36pm that is a two hour time difference from Paris and a 4 hour difference from home.

NOW to get through the visa line, find our luggage, and get through customs. Getting through the visa and passport line was easy. They looked at our passports but when they saw our Mercy Ship paper work they were like ok Stamp, stamp. I HAVE A STAMP IN MY PASSPORT. Finding our luggage was another story altogether. The Togo airport has a carousel not one but two for luggage but the carousels do not connect and they were unloading luggage on both. We started in one spot but didn’t find or see our luggage, so we moved to the other one (at this point still thinking that they both connect) One of us found our bags, the rest of us were still waiting. I want to say that it was 30 minutes before I found my bags. It was still a while before we found the last of the luggage which was on the other carousel. Now it was time to go through customs. Whose bag got flag? You guessed it…mine. OK so we made it through customs and walked out to the greeting area and were met by 5 Africa Mercy crew members. They were a welcome sight.

Time to head to the ship. We pile our luggage into Land Rovers and get into the waiting vehicles. Off we go! Driving through the street to the port was and experience. Living in NH I have seen people riding motorcycles without helmet ( I have) but never have I seen 4 people on a bike, carrying packages, babies, or children in front on the driver. The motorcycles also didn’t all have headlights, if not for this I would have felt that I was in Laconia, NH for Motorcycle week. Driving along the street, I saw people watching the World Cup on TV’s set up outside and along the street, aluminum siding houses, some only on three sides, people cooking outside, and children. As we pulled into the port on one side you saw a French Naval Ship and the Africa Mercy on the other. Our luggage was brought on board and then we were given our name badges and shown to our rooms. I am rooming with Mari Jo and Becca (a nurse from Indiana) we have one more roommate coming this week. Becca is serving for 2 years on board the Africa Mercy. After unpacking and sending an email to people letting them know I got here, I went to bed. I will let you all know about the ship in a future blog. I am heading to see the Academy in a few.

Trusting in Him,

Heather

I’m Leaving On A Jet Plane

All my bags are packed
I'm ready to go
I'm standing here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye

I'm leaving on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe I hate to go.

 

So this is the song that was going through my head since yesterday morning. Yes, my bags are packed but knowing me I will repack them before I leave to go. I still need to weigh them to make sure I am under 50lbs.  I arrived at Mom and Dad’s yesterday evening but before I left NY I faced many funny situations that just help me to see that God’s hand is in this. In the mail on Tuesday, I received a letter from the Commissioner of Juror for Rensselaer County. The first thing that went through my mind is “I am leaving for 6 weeks and I am being called for Jury Duty” Well, it was not a summons for Jury duty but it was a juror questionnaire. This was Tuesday. On Wednesday, I got up packed my car and then headed to school. As I was driving I saw lights in my rearview mirror. I was like what did I do, I was at a stop light? So I have a taillight out which was on the list of item for my dad to have fixed on my car this summer. The officer asked me for my license and registration. Well, my registration was in my glove box but I put my wallet in one of my suitcase so I would not forget it. He took my info and headed to check it out.  I now have a form to have filled out, that needs to be mailed back to the Cohoes Police Department stating that the light is fixed. At this point I am already laughing about the happenings of the last 20 hours.  What timing for all of this?  What more could happen  before I leave?

As I was driving home on Wednesday evening, I realized I had forgot to pack extra contacts for my trip. I had the one pair in my contact case but that was in no way going to last me until August. I figured that it would be easy to just pick up a few boxes at Wal-Mart.  So last night I found my prescription and this morning I began calling Wal-Mart's in the area to see if they had mine in stock.  After three Wal-Mart's and one doctor’s office, I had come up with nothing and found out that my prescription had expired. I called my Dr’s in Latham to have them fax my prescription  to 1-800-Contacts so I could have contacts overnighter to me. Well because the prescription was expired they could not send them with out the Doctor’s permission. After lots of phone calls back and forth, my contacts are on the way and I will have them by noon tomorrow. AMEN!!

Trusting,

Heather

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS MISS CROSBIE GOING?

 

Thank you, Maria for sharing this picture. It brought a smile to my eyes. This is precious.

Are you listening to what God is telling you to do?

I was reading in Ezekiel the other day, and it struck me how easy it is for us to hear God’s voice but difficult to put it in action. My devotional on Thursday morning was entitled “When You Don’t Want to Listen” The beginning lines say this “God’s voice can humble us, stand us up, and strength us to hear more. A glimpse of His glory puts us on our face; a touch of His Spirit sets us on our feet. Only then are we ready to hear his voice. We must be prepared to hear his voice because what we hear when the voice speaks may not always be what we expect or want to hear!”  Over the past couple of months, I have really been listening to what God wants me to do in my life.  In February, I began a journey that I was not sure would turn out to be anything but a dream but that the dream is becoming a reality.  In October, I could have just listened to the song and did nothing about it but I made the chorus my prayer for the summer. I know without a doubt that God has placed me at Loudonville Christian School so that I can touch the lives of the little ones who walk through my doors but I also know that I want my summers to make a difference to one person. In the past I have tutored, babysat, and worked at camp but I felt that this summer needed something more too it. In February, I received an email from Mercy Ship saying that they needed a summer program assistants and I say that’s something I could do, but I was a little hesitant to do anything about it. Well, I did follow through to see if God had this in store for me. Well, I sit here know thinking over the past months and all that God has shown me and I am so glad that I not only heard his voice saying Go but that I listened and followed through. In three days I leave NY to head to my mom and dad’s in Stoughton, MA from there I leave on Friday evening for Paris and then TOGO, AFRICA!!! I am so excited for this adventure and to see what more God is going to teach me.

Through this journey I have already learned that God will provide for everything and then some.

• I leave on Friday, completely supported not only financially but in prayer.
• I leave on Friday, feeling fearful but full of excitement.
• I leave on Friday, clinging to the fact that God will never leave me or forsake me.
• I leave on Friday, knowing that God is my provider, protector, comforter, and friend.
• I leave on Friday, knowing that God’s kindness, mercy, and love for me are inexhaustible
• I am so excited to see what God is going to do in the next five weeks.

As I take off this week I ask you to join with me in prayer

• For Sandy and family over the loss of her husband George this weekend. I pray that she feels God’s arms wrapping around her.
• For final details in my classroom to be wrapped up smoothly and without any hiccups.
• For safe travel to MA, Paris, and Togo.
• For all the last minute details to come together.

Thank you all for you support and prayers.

Trusting in Africa,

Heather

Showers of Blessings

Over the past couple of days it has been rainy and overcast here in NY, but for me they have been showers of blessings. On May 3rd, I received word that I had the amazing opportunity to be serving this summer on the Africa Mercy teaching 3rd through 5th graders. Looking at the time I had,  how much I needed to do, and how much money I needed to be able to do this, I just about had a nervous breakdown. Yes, I know the Bible tells us to not be anxious about anything but with prayer and petition bring your requests to the Lord, but I am human and I worried a little about how this was all going to come together in just 6 weeks. Well, I have a week and a half left before I fly to Togo and everything is coming together. I have a plane ticket, a passport, vaccinations, medications, a visa waiver, clothing, and I think all my support (I won’t really know this until I get home but I think so). I have been so blessed by so many already through this journey I cannot wait to see what God is going to do in the coming week before I leave and in the weeks I am gone.  I never imagined that I would feel God’s pushing me through the door more than I do in this. I have stepped through many doors in my life thinking God has opened them but in this instance I can see God’s hand on the door knob.

I have a lot to do in the next couple of days to prepare for this trip but tomorrow is a day I look forward to and dread all year. Every year in Pre-K, we have a closing program to send our kids on their way. Although this is sad for me as a teacher, I love to show their parents what they have learned all year. This year’s theme is “I’m special; I’m God’s special child”. 

In the next few days, I am asking you to pray for me as I tie up loose ends and wrap up the year. I also ask you to pray for me to get restful nights in the coming days.

Trusting,

Heather

PRAISES AND PRAYER REQUEST

Sing for joy in the Lord, O righteous ones;praise is becoming to the upright . Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy. Psalm 33:1-3

At the moment, I feel that the praises are out weighing the prayer requests.


I am praising God daily for giving me this opportunity to serve him. I am also excited to see him working out every situation.

Over the last week, I found myself continually praising God for all he had provided.

On Tuesday, my dad and I sat in front of our computers, me in NY and dad in Stoughton looking for airfare from Boston to Togo with the possible opportunity to visit family in Switzerland on the way back. I have been looking at airfare for this trip from day one and the price I was finding was $3200.00 from Boston to Togo and back. This did not include a stop in Switzerland. While were we looking at airfare both dad and I were coming up with price all over the place. We found prices from $2000 to $4000 plus in airfare. I was beginning to think that stopping to visit family on the way home was not going to be an option. My dad did a search one more time and found a flight that allowed me not only to visit Switzerland but for almost a thousand dollars cheaper than what I had budgeted. Praise the Lord! We did not book my flight right away because we wanted to make sure that my Suisse cousin were going to be around while I was there. We decided also to see if a travel agent could find a better price than we did. No such luck with that. On Friday, my dad called me as my students were being picked up from schools saying he needed my passport number in order to book my flight. I was at school and my passport was at home. Problem I still have three hours in my day. I run home on my lunch break for get my passport for my dad. I give him the number and he enters in the credit card information. All of the sudden the computer tells him to call Air France to finish booking because something was wrong on the information. My dad looked over the information he filled in and noticed that instead of Ms Heather Crosbie, he had put Mr. Heather Crosbie, which does not match the name on my passport.

In this story, I have many praises; first, is that my passport arrived on Wednesday, second, I booked my flight on Friday, and third, my flight was a thousand dollars less then what we first expected. I also received my visa waiver today, so it looks like all my paperwork is in order.

I am also praising God for bringing in the support I’ve needed at just the right moment. As on Sunday, I have about 2/3 of my support in for Togo.

Please continue to be in prayer for

~ me as I prepare to leave the known and walk into the unknown

~for my health, I have just finished up all my vaccines that have been recommended for me. I will begin Malaria meds on June 16th

~for my financial support

~for those on board and for those I will be working with

and lastly

~ pray for the end of the school you for go smoothly

A Smile on my Face and a Tear in my Eye

Over the past week, we have been studying the ocean in my classroom; one of my favorite themes to study because I get to bring in Cape Cod to the classroom. Over the years I have done different things to decorate my classroom for this theme. This year I was adventurous. I had purchase two kiddy pools a few years ago for my classrooms end of the year beach party on the field. This year I brought them inside with the idea that I would put different things in them on different days. I was really only planning on using one pool but when I got to school, Wednesday I said to Rosemarie I am going to use both pools. So before devotions I set both pools out and in one I put sand toys and the other I put water toys. I also put out two beach towels and sunglasses for them to play with. I went to devotions and when I came downstairs to the classroom. My kids were in the pools playing and having a ball. I said to a mom "I guess we don't need anything in them." I had kids pretending to jump in the pools, as well. It did nothing for me but put a smile on my face. What more could I ask then to have 13 students having a ball in empty pools. Just wait until I put water and sand in them; which I did later on that morning. It was a great start to the morning.


That afternoon I was scheduled to have my Yellow Fever Shot, which I was not looking forward to but I got through it. I went back to school after my shot to find that RoseMarie had prepped all of our letter pages for this week. What a blessing to have her there picking up pieces I am forgetting.

After watching a very intense Softball game, I came home to find to find that my passport had arrived as well as more financial support. As I opened each envelope I was stuck once again by how generous people are being for this trip and how GOD is completely providing everything exactly when I need it.

It was Friday afternoon after coming home; I received a support letter from my Aunt Judy that brought a tear to my eye. My aunt has been a great help to me over the years. She has been a shoulder to cry on, given me a roof over my head, and encouraged me when I was discouraged. She became a second mom to me. In her note to me she let me know that the money was from my Uncle's Memorial Fund. I was completely blown away and had to call my mom who also went to tears.



I began reading the book facing your Giants, when I found out that had this opportunity and I am still amazed at how God took someone a lowly as a Shepherd boy and used him to defeat a Giant. I cannot wait to see how He uses me this summer in Togo.